Armored-cable connector.



H. R. GILSON.

ARMORED CABLE CONNECTOR,

APPLICATION FILED IAN.28, 1916.

1,215,366. Patented Feb.13,1917.

IIIVIE STATES A'IT FFICE.

yHENRY R. GILSGN, V0F BADEN, .PENNSYLVANLL SSIGNOR T NATIONAL METAL MOLDING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CQRPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA,

ARMORED-CABLE CONNECTOR.

Application filed January 28, 1916.

To aZZw/wm z'zf may concern.'

'Be it known that I, HENRY R. GILsoN, residing at Baden, in the county oi 'Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, acitizen ci Vthe United States, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Armored-Cable Connectors, off which improvement the following is Aa specilication.

llheobject of my vinvention is to provide a simple and `inexpensive'connector for attaching armored cables to electrical natures,

whereby such Aattachments may be facilitated, and the cable be securely held vin vposition andagainst rotation without its being cramped 'or otherwise prejudicially engaged by the attaching means.

My invention is applicable alike to stationary fiixtures, f such -as voutlet boxes secured to a suitable support, and to. portable `tix- .tures, such as sockets, attachment plugs,

electrically yoperated ftools, etc.

In '-the 4accompanying sheet of drawings, forming part of rmy specification, I have illustrated ithe .preferred embodiment ot my invention in its adaptability lto the two aforementioned classes of :electrical ixtures. Figure 1 is a side elevation of an `atta-chment plug and socket, fastened by means of my improved connector, to the opposite ends of a section of armored cord or cable; Fig. 2 a central vertical sectional view to enlarged scale through the attachment plug and the upper end of the cable; Fig. 3 a plan 'view of lthe attachment pluO; Fig. i a sectional view taken onthe line Ill-IV Fig. l; and Fig. 5 sectional view of an outlet box and a connector similar to that of Figs. 1 and 2 for attaching an armored cable to the box.

Armored cables, as contemplated by my invention, include all forms of electrical conductors, cables or cords which are protected by a helical wrapping ci metal, whether such metal be in the form of a wire, a curved or bent strip, or in some other `form. In the present embodiment of my invention I have shown two conductors 1 and 1a protected by superimposed helical Wrappings of two interlocking curved strips 2 and 2a.

In the practice of my invention I provide a thimble, adapted to receive the end of the armored cable, and having, in its wall adj acent to the cable, a slot or recess adapted to receive an outwardly turned end of the Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Serial'No. 74,80*?.

armor strip and, by such engagement o'fthe strip, `effective to prevent the cable :trom turning, that is rotating upon its longitudinal axis, with relation to the thimble. The cable `being thus held against rotation with relation 4to the thimble, means are `pi-ovided to hold the cable and thimblc against rc'lative longitudinal movement.

In the embodiment Aoi my invention shown in Figs. -1 to 4i, inclusive, l'the cablereceiving thimble is a sleeve 3 formed at one end of an attachment plug Li. the sleeve and thebody portion of the plugibeing preferably formed integrally of suitable moldable insulating material. This sleeve `is vprovided with two slots 5 and 5 disposed tangentially to its 'inner bore aandextending to fits lower edge, each slot receiving an outwardly `turned end oi one of 'the two armor strips 2 and 2, as clearly indicated. The means for holding vthe cable against longitudinal movement vin the `sleeve comprise a `screw-'threaded bushing G engaging the outer face rol the Asleeve and provided with an inwardlyextendingflange 7 closing the outer ends of the slots and 5 and thereby retaining the strip ends within lsuch slots. As `will ybefseen, the conductors -1 and laL fare, by binding screws 8 and 8, electrically connected to "the'contact Llingers 9 and 9 `adapted to be received by the lreceptacle 18,1the'construction of which is well iknow-n.

The lower portion of Fig. 1 shows in elevation the same connector as applied to a lamp socket 10. In attaching the cable to the plug or socket shown in this figure, the bushing G is rst slipped over the end of the cable. rl`he ends of the armor strips are then bent outwardly and the electrical fixture slipped over the end of the cable, the recesses 5 and 5a thereof receiving the ends of the outwardly turned armor strip. The attachment may then be completed by screwing the bushing 6 upon the sleeve 3.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5, the connector consists of a thimble, made of suitable moldable insulating material, having' a` central outstanding Harige 11 and sleeves l2 and 18 at opposite sides thereof. The wall of the sleeve 12 is provided with armor-receiving slots, and its outer face is threaded to receive a bushing 6 in the same manner as explained with reference to the connector shown in Figs. 1 and 4i, inclusive. The sleeve 13 may, as

shown, have an outer metal facing 14 molded in the body of the thimble, such facing being threaded to receive a clamping .nut 15 for attaching the thimble to an outlet box 16. However, in connectors for some styles of electrical fixtures, the sleeve 13 may be omitted, the insulation material of the thimble then terminating` at the inner end of the facing 14. As will be seen, the construction of the thimble is such that the cable armor is insulated from the outlet box. The connector shown in this figure may be attached to the end of a cable in the manner already explained.

It will be observed of the connector which I provide that, the cable being held firmly against longitudinal or turning movement with relation to the thimble, no strain may be placed upon the conductors. Furthermore, the cable is engaged in such a manner that the armor is not pressed against the contained conductors, and there is no liability of the insulation of the conductors becoming abraded by the ragged cut ends of the armor strip as is incidental to the use of the usual type of cable holders.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle and operation of my invention together with constructions which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that the constructions shown are only illustrative, and that my invention may be practised by other forms of construction.

I claim as my invention:

1. A connector for an armored cable, comprising a thimble adapted to receive a cable, a slot in the Wall of the thimble extending to the edge thereof and adapted to receive an outwardly turned end of an armor strip, and a member secured to said thimble and having a portion closing the open edge of said slot.

2. A connector for an armored cable, comprising an externally threaded thimble adapted to receive the end of a cable, a slot in the wall of the thimble extending to the edge thereof and adapted to receive an outwardly turned end of an armor strip, and a bushing having screw threads to engage said thimble and provided with an inwardlye turned fiange adapted to engage the edge of the outwardly turned armor strip and thereby clamp the cable in said thimble.

3. The combination with an armored cable having the end of an armor strip turned i thimble extending to the cable-receiving end thereof and containing said outwardlyturned strip end, and a bushing having screw threaded engagement with said threaded thimble and provided with an inwardly extending iiange at the cable receiving endv of the thimble, said iiange closing the end of said slot and thereby securing the cable to the thimble.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY R. GILSON.

Witnesses:

PAUL N. Cin'ronnow, FRANCIS J. ToMAssoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

